Device ancillary to spinning spindles and the like



8 6 2 I L. E H T D A s m D N I P S G N I N v N I P. s O T Y m L L I m A E c I v E D C. STAUFERT Aug. 1, 1939.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES DEVICE ANCILLARY T SPINNING SPINDLES 'AND THE LIKE Carl Stau'fert, Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt,

Germany Application February 14, 1939, Serial No. 256,322 In Germany February 17, 1938 i 12 Claims. 1 (c1. 57-130) This invention relates principally to an improvement in adapters and securing devices for enabling the mounting of different spools or bobbins interchangeably on spinning spindles.

An object is to provide an adapter forv said purpose which is capable of being easily and quickly mounted on and dismounted from the spindle, and which, when in working position, is locked against rotation and longitudinal movement relative to the spindle.

Another object is to provide an improved means for retaining bobbins and spools and/or adapters for bobbins and spools on spindles (e. g.) such as used in the textile industry.

Usually in spinning mills, the bobbins for weft yarn,-which bobbins conventionally are frustoconical paper tubes-, are mounted on the bare,

spindles. Since the bobbins for warp yarn'are larger internally than bobbins for weft yarn, interchangeable use of the two types requires an adapter of some sort for-the larger if only one size of spindle is available or required to be used. Spinners frequently meet the problem by their own resources, using makeshift adapters which can be glued onto the spindle, or can be screwed on, as at internal threads of the whorl, assuming appropriate threads are, or space for such threads is, available. Gluing-on is uncertain to secure concentricity between bobbin and spindle, and of course makes removal of the adapter extremely 'difiicult. Screwed-on adapters can be used only when driven in one direction, and tend to become detached from or loose on the spindle if reversely driven. Any looseness can cause chattering of the spindle. Another difficulty was presented by the impracticability of leaving any space or gap between the whorl and the adapter base portion into which reserve yarn could become fouled, and consequently, the adapters were made with the same outer diameter at the base as the outer diameter of the neck of the whorl. Thus, each adapter was suitable for but one size of bobbin tube. In another prior construction, attempt was made to secure the adapted to the 45 whorl by means of claws, the adapter being pressed tightly on the top of the spindle by means of a. screw. Detachment of this adapter required. 1

special tools, and a single adapter was limited to but one size bobbin, principally because of cussed.

Practical considerations and conditions demand more flexibility of adaptation to different 60 without special tools, and provide for locking of having to preserve a smooth continuous surface between the adapter and whorl as already disthe adapter to the spindles against rotation and endwise movement thereon. V Attainment of the above indicated goal, and particularly in an adapter which can be secured to the spindle at one and preferably both ends of it by resilient and/or readily releasable coupling elements is a further and more specific object hereof. Other objects and the various novel features of the exemplary constructions will become apparent from the following description relating *to the accompanying drawings. The essential characteristics are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional viewoi one form of adapter, embodying the invention, in place on a spindle, the upper end portions and whorl of which is shown (lat ter in section). Fig. 2 is ,a-transverse section as indicated on Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the whorl; Fig. 4 shows the upper portion of the spindle in longitudinal section (as at right angles to Fig. 1) and a yieldable bobbin-securing and adapter-securing member on the spindle end; Fig. 5 is a top view of the spindle; Fig.6 is a fragmentary view partlyin section showing a modified connection between the adapter and whorl; Fig. 7 is a transverse section as indicated on Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing further modifications in upper vand lower couplings for an adapter and spindle; Fig.9 is a view similar to-Fig. 6, but of a stilldifierent adapter base connection to the spindle or part thereof; Figs. 10 and 11 are fragmentary side views of a spindle tip taken at right angles to each other; Fig. .12 is a view similar toFig. 4 of a further modified spindle construction suitable for use with an adapter and spindle assembly" such as shown by Fig. '8, and Figs. 13 and 14 are cross-sectional views, as indicated, respectively, on Fig. 12.

Referringfurther to the drawings, the spindle, as adapted for use directly to support standard bobbins, is indicated at I, and the whorl thereof at 2, attached as to a middle portion 3 of the spindle. The'whorl has an upstanding rim or cup efiect 4 which can be integral with the whorl proper (e. g. Figs. 8 and 9), or made as a tightly fitted sleeve, e. g. Figs. 1 and 6). The rim maybe used asa retaining cup for yarn at the start of the spinning operation. The adapter, in all forms, is indicated at 5, and this can be metal, organicplastics, or any other material of adequate strength. It can be drawn as a tube from light gage metal.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the lower end of the adapter is enlarged, as at 6, and adapted to be received in the cup 4 with provision for a little play. The upper part of the adapter has a short portion peripherally fitting the adjacent spindle portion as an upper centering means for the adapter.

T Coupling of the adapter detachably to the spindle may be accomplished through the medium of radially yieldable buttons 8 which are movable in lateral holes or sockets oi. the enlarged base 6 of the adapter. The buttons are urged outwardly by springs 9, the latter reacting inwardly on a sleeve II. The buttons 9 have rounded nose portions for readily releasable but positive driving engagement with respectively aligned holes I in the rim 4 from which they protrude only slightly if at all. Such release is enabled by making the noses of the buttons and the receiving holes I therefor of such propor-- tions that the buttons can easily be pressed inwardly into rim-disengaging position by the.

thumb and finger of an operator. The outward movement of the buttons can be limited by flanges Ill on the buttons, which outwardly abut counterbore shoulders as illustrated in Fig. 2, or an undercut boring (I I, Fig. 3) extending around the inside of the adapter in the plane of the buttons and bridged by the sleeve 12 when pressed into place in the base of the adapter. The sleeve I2 is not'essential, because the undercut H can be made as a circular slot in the base of the adapter and intercepting the bottom surface of the base (not illustrated). This construction is feasible, because the buttons 8 can be made with contractible and expansible flanges I0 enabling them to be assembled radially into their guiding holes in the base 6, said flangesexpanding in the space provided by the undercut or circular slot after such insertion of the buttons.

Preferably the upper part of the adapter, as at the inwardly extending annular portion 1, fits the spindle closely as already stated. In practice, this condition in connection with adapters for bobbins and spools of all kinds may be difficult to obtain and/or maintain (e. g. because of wear), and to prevent looseness at all times, a centering and frictional retaining spring i5 is provided. The spring is U or hairpin-shaped as shown, and of'generally fiat, i. e. elongated rectangular, cross section. The loop or base I I of the spring can be secured in a longitudinal groove l6, which passes along opposite sides of the spindle and across its end, by bending in opposite wall portions I8 of the spindle which define the uppermost portion of the groove, so that said ,wall portions overhang the spring. The groove l6, at all portions of it which receive the spring, is at least deep enough fully to receive the spring with the exposed surface of the latter fiush with or not protruding radially materially beyond the adjacent spindle surface. Normally, the spring l5 protrudes from the groove, as at thickened portions IQ of the spring, to enable taking up play between the spindle and adapter or spool or bobbin, and beneath the thickened portions of the spring the groove is correspondingly deepened. When the thickened portions l9 are depressed into the groove a predetermined distance, as against the bottom of the groove, then the outer or exposed surfaces of said spring portions I!) which are appropriately curved make circular continuations of the spindle surface. If desired, for keying the upper part of the spindle to the adapter, the adapter portion 1 can have a pair of grooves (20, Fig. 5) to receive the portions IQ of the spring I5. The upper end of the spindle can be cylindrical to a point below t'ht adapter portion 1, if desired, or slightly conical, and in either case, it is made snugly to fit the portion 1 (e. g.) of the adapter in the operating position of the latter.

Both. the yielding connections at the top and base of the adapter can be modified or altered in construction, while nevertheless securing the adapter against rotation and undesirable shifting on the spindle. One modification of the base connection of the adapter (illustrated by Figs. 6 and 7) comprises the provision or a locking-ring 2! which can be sprung into a groove 22 in the adapter base portion, and adapted as by several nose portions to contact resiliently with a similar groove in the rim 4 to secure the adapter against vertical movement on the spindle and holding the base concentric with the spindle.

Cooperating-herewith to prevent relative rotation of the adapter and spindle, a pair 01' pins 24, which extend upwardly from the bottom of the cup or the whorl-, loosely occupy respective portions of the cross slot or groove 25 in the base or merely sockets for the pins, larger internally than the pins incross section.

When the described construction is used, e. g. for a warp yarn bobbin, the bobbin fits over the adapter. When used for the internally smaller weft yarn bobbin, the latter is irictionally held on the bare spindle by the spring shoes I9, and the lower end of "'the bobbin is limited in its downward movement and is supported as on a shoulder 26 (see Fig. l).- F'or spinning warp yarn on the same spindle, the adapter 5, which externally can be varied to suit the type of bobbin' customarily used, replaces the weft yarn bobbin, and a suitable number of pressure cou pling elements 21 on the adapter will enable a considerable variety of tapers, sizes and lengths of warp yarn bobbins to be mounted for operation interchangeably.

The form of adapter shown in Fig. 8 has an upper coupling element which enables locking of the adapter against rotation and/or against turning on the spindle. In other words, it can be used for both purposes or only one of them as may be requisite. As illustrated, a generally cylindrical body 30 is pressed into a bore 3| leading downwardly from the top end. The

body has two or more grooves 32 which contain.

respective coupling levers 33 fulcrumed as at 84 against the bore 3|. The levers have lower end nose elements 35 adapted to grip the adjacent portion of the spindle, as at an annular groove 36 thereof (Fig. 8), or at notches or tangential grooves 31 (Figs. 10 and 11). In the latter instance, a positive locking is-secured between the adapter and spindle against turning and also lengthwise movement. The upper portion of the body 30 is bored to receive a'lever-operating head 39 and releasing button 4| connected thereto; the head being normally pressed upwardly by a spring 40 supported as by a bridge 40a of the body 30. The head 39 is appropriately shaped to cam against the inwardly inclined ends 38 ofthe levers and to cause the lockingof the adapter to the spindle above described, and as will be obvious from the drawings. The release button 4| has an internally beveled rim 42 adapted to bear inwardly against the lever ends 38 upon downward movement of the buttons to release the latching or locking of the lever nose portions 35 on the spindle. The levers can be prevented from falling out of position, i. e. from grooves 32, when the adapter is lifted ofi the spindle, by extensions 43 of the levers which project downwardly beyond wall portions 30a of the body. Said portions 30a block the inward movement of the extensions 43 and hold the looking nose elements in such position that they can easily be cammed outwardly by the tip of the spindle when the adapter is applied thereto.

When the coupling just described is used, the locking levers 33 could preclude practical use of the retaining spring IS in the form heretofore described. In said instance, or in any appropri ate ones for that matter, the spring [5, which has its loop extending through a hole 44 near the top end of the spindle and its legs l9 embracing the spindle at grooves l6, can be used. A suitable form of the spring, at the main pressure region (IQ') of it, is illustrated in Fig. 13. At other portions, the spring can be a flat strip as illustrated in Fig. 14. The curved cross section of the spring along the regions designated l9 stifi'ens those portions of the spring and enables efiectiveapplicatlon of spring force to a bobbin 0n the bare spindle, and enables positive locking (against rotation) of the adapter 5 by the spring l9 (as already described in connection with Fig. 5) when the form of groove 36 exhibited by. Figs. 8 and 12 the spindle.

The lower portion of Fig. 8'shows a detachable driving coupling comprising radially disposed pins 46 secured in respective aligned bores in a central or hub portion of the whorl and its rim, which pins drivingly engage downwardly facing notches 45 in the base portion of the adapter. This construction is not required when tan: gential grooves such as 31 or equivalent keying means is or are used at the upper coupling. Fig. 9 shows the principles of construction oi the detachable coupling of Fig. 8 (upper part) embodied in a coupler construction for the lower portion of the adapter 5. In this case, a body member 30' is pressed into the lower end of the adapter and is suitably machined to receive the locking levers 33', the lower inwardly extending ends 36 of which engage the whorl hub at radial holes or sockets 41 therein. The actuating and releasing member 4| for the levers, whose operation will be obvioua i's pressed upwardly by the spring 40' to moye-theends 36' inwardly. Release is accomplished by inserting a suitable tool through side openings in the adapter. wall and pressing downwardly on the head 4| which corresponds to the button 4| of Fig. 8. Instead p1 requiring a downward push on the button 4i or 4|, the button may be turned to release the levers through a helical groove or spiral cam formation.

is used at the top of The adapter can overlap the neck or of the whorl either inwardly therefrom (as shown) or outwardly.

I claim:

1. A demountable adapter for spinning spindles characterized by having a detachable resilient coupling means arranged for and being operable to secure the adapter against rotation. and longitudinal shifting on the spindle.

2. An improvement in a spinning spindle having a whorl provided with an opening, said improvement comprising an adapter with releasable resiliently operated means to engage such opening of the whorl andto latch the adapter in place on the spindle.

3. The improvement according to claim 2, wherein the whorl has an upstanding flange with holes therethrough; and yieldable members on the adapter project outwardly into the holes to effect the latching, which members can be released by pressing them inwardly as described.

' the spindle, and a side of 4. A demountable adapter for a spinning spindle, which spindle has a transverse, external groove or notch in it, spring actuated levers carried bythe adapter extending longitudinally of it and each arranged at one end to grip the spindle at such groove or notch, and means on the adapter and cooperable with the levers to swing them to a spindle-releasing position.

5. A demountable adapter and spinning spindle combination, said adapter and spindle having overlapping parts, one part provided with a peripheral groove, a resilient locking ring carried by one of the parts and which engages the groove at regions spaced circumferentially of the whorl in a manner tending to prevent axial separation of the parts, and means connecting the adapter and spindle in a manner to prevent relative rotation.

6. A demountable adapter for a spinning spindle, said adapter having, near one end, a plurality of springepressed and releasable levers, each with a portion which enters a groove in the spindle in a manner to prevent relative rotation and also axial movement of the adapter and spindle.

'7. A demountable adapter for a spinning spindle, said adapter having a retaining device for engaging the spindle, comprising levers contained within an axial bore of the adapter and held yieldingly in position to engage the spindle by a resilient element bearing on the levers, and cooperating means to hold the levers in such bore when the adapter is removed from the spindle.

8. An adapter according to claim 7,. wherein the levers are operated to active position by a head which is in turnacted upon by the resilientelement, which head has a portion accessible from a point externally of the adapter to enable release of the spindle by the levers.

9. The combination with a spinning spindle and an adapter therefor,. 01 a hairpin-shaped spring, the legs 'of which occupy longitudinal grooves in the spindle and normally protrude therefrom by the spring stress, which spring is operable toretain a bobbin on the bare spindle, the adapter having means adapted to interlock with the protruding portions of the spring in a manner to key the adapter to the spindle.

10. A demountable adapter and spinning spindle combination, wherein means for preventing or the connecting baseand free end portions, characterized in that the base portion of the U occupies a transverse groove in the free end of.

the groove-is deformed inwardly into abutting relation to said base poi-.-

tion to hold the spring against endwise movement. V

CARL s'rsur'nn'r.

lying lnlongitudinal grooves in the spindle, which legs have outwardly bowed spool or bobbin-re uxing portions intermediate 

